ETSU students and a panel of guest speakers gathered Tuesday night to discuss educational issues as a part of American Education Week.
One of the issues addressed at the panel was the new test administered to ninth graders called the Gateway Exam. This test consists of three parts: English II, Algebra I and Biology I. Students have to pass this exam to graduate from high school.
“This year’s ninth graders are the first to take the test, said Rev. Vincent Dial, principal of Northside Elementary School and pastor of Bethel Christian Church. “If students do not pass they are to seek remedial classes. The program is new and is its infancy.”
Adrian Murray, public relations coordinator of the Johnson City School System, said that the test will help build an early intervention and a safety net to keep students from falling through the education cracks.
Lottie Ryans, elected member of the Johnson City School Board and customer service director of Sprint, explained that the test is administered three times a year. Students must finish the class work to take the Gateway exam, so they will have all the help they can to pass the test.
Another issue that was addressed at the event is the new development that the Johnson City has been through in the past few years.
According to Ryans, Johnson City has opened, transformed and expanded various schools throughout the area.
“In recent years we have opened Lake Ridge Elementary School and Indian Trail Middle School,:” Ryans said. “In addition to this, Science Hill High School has gone through a transformation with a new auditorium. Cherokee Elementary has just had a new gym and Northside Elementary has just had a new building expansion.”
The issue of recruiting new teachers was another topic discussed amongst the panel and the students.
Some students in the audience were concerned on the hiring process that the School Board takes when they are looking for positions to be filled.
Murray said hiring cannot be posted until a position is open or there are funds for hiring. There is also a pre-screening of the applications, to see if the individuals meet the criteria for the position.
Dial explained that there are three levels of the applications process. The first level is the resume. The second level is a requirement of three recommendations and then the individual will be called in for an interview, and this is when the professional portfolio will be analyzed.
According to the speakers there is an ongoing need for special education teachers and bilingual teachers.
The topic of the students’ parents and the community intervening in the educational process was discussed as well.
One suggestion for how the community can help is to take a special interest in a child, help him/her with homework and boost his/her self-esteem.
“By welcoming visitors into the school and making them feel appreciated and needed is one huge way that we can seek involvement,” Ryans said.
The community and parents can also get involved through the Parent and Teachers Association, PTA.
Another way is that the school system can just ask people to become involved with the school system.

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